Improvement in time attachments for locks



2 Sheets-Sheet l.

y LSARQENT. TIME ATTACHMENTS FoRLocKs. 310,186,369. Patented Jan.1s ,1s77.

4-TJNITEID STATES PATENT 1Q-Errea JAMES SABGENT, 0F ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

IMPRQVEMENT IN Tim-:ATTACHMENTS Fon esta Specification forming part `of` Letters` Patent No. 186,369, dated January 16, 1877 ,application filed Y January 9, 1877.

`object being to construct a time-movementiin such a manner as to have it gnardhand act in conjunction with a combination-leemos() as to renderV said combination-lock, when locked,

i inoperative and incapable of being unioked until the arrivalof the appointed hour, at which time the time mechanism will liberate or cease its guarding action on the combination-lock, andadmit of `said lock being operated and unlocked' lby the rperson `having knowledge ofthe combination upon which said lock `is set, so as toenable 1the bolt-work of the safe or vaultdoor to beretracted `and theV door opened.

My invention consists incombining a time mechanism with a` combination -lock, and `adaptimg; the sameto operate in connection with thebolt-workuof'a safe or vault door, the time mechanism being `constructed `to act in conjunction with, and guard, dog, or 'render inoperative, the aforesaid combination-.lock

when locked, thesaid combination-lock having aibolt-or bearing speciallylconstructed and arranged, so that when in Vone position it will rest upon or receive the pressure of the bolt-work of thedoorwhenthe latter is thrown `out and the lock locked,and thus `prevent the retraction ot' the bolt-Work.

This arrangement retains the bolt-work in a locked condition during thehours `appointed for'it to remain locked, and prevents the lock from being unlocked by anyone having legitimate orsurreptitious knowledge of the `combination upon which the lockjis set, until the arrival of the appointed hour, when the` time mechanism will cease its y dogging ,or guarding action uponsaid combination-lock, and admit of said lockbeing operated by those in `possession. of thecombination, so as to enable them t0 planeo-the bolter beafineof the 'lock in such position as to enable the retraction of the bolt-work, Whereby'the `safe or vault door can he op'ened. l

The invention further consists in acertain combination, substautiallyas lhereinafter set i'orth-thatis to sayha union consisting of a combination-lock, a v1tirne-movement, and ayokelever or connection adapted to be placed upona `safe or vault door 1tooperate in oonjunction withthe bolt-Work 1thereomsaid yoke lever or connection being constructed and located in such respect to the combination-lock as torrenderthe unlocking of lthe same absolutely Vimpossible `when locked, and yso remain lockeduntil the arrival of the appointed-or predeterminate time, at which time the said yokelever or connection, through the action of the time-movement, is caused to cease its guarding or (logging action upon the combination-lock, atwhich time, or any time after during the time the time mechanism has ceased its dogging or guarding action, the said lock can beunlocvked by the person in possession of the proper combination upon which the lock is set, the peculiarity and noveltyof this union being that when the said c combination-lock, with its time `mechanism, is `arranged upon a safe or vault door to operate in conjunction with the bolt-Work thereomand all locked, the tumblers or combinationwheels of the said lock, andthe spindle of the saine, together with its usual indicator, are all left free to be moved or rotated without exerting any unlocking action or strain whatever upon the mechanism composing the combination-lock, or the delicate mechanism composingthe time-movement. i

1n the drawings, VFigure l 'represents a portion of a safe or vault door, illustrating thereon ebelt-,Work and a'combined time mechanism and combination-lock, with covers removed, the bolt-work being thrown out into the jamb of the door, and` the combinationlock locked and guarded `bythe ltime-movement. Fig. 2 is a detail view, illustratinga yoke lever orconnection adapted lto connect with theidog,vanglebar, orifenceof the com-V bination-lock. Fig. 3 represents a portion of e ser-vault +1001, having 4thereon a boltwork, and a combined time mechanism and combination-lock, the combination-lock being unlocked and the bolt-work retracted.

Referring to the drawing, the letter A designates the case of a combination-lock, the lock-works of which may be of any of the wellknown forms now in use, provided the same is supplied with a lock-bolt, or a bearing constructed and arranged so as to connect with or receive the pressure ofthe bolt-work located on a safe or vault door, when said lock-bolt or bearing and the bolt-work are placed in a position for locking the door.

The combination-lock illustrated in the drawings is one known as Sargents Automatic Bank-Lock, upon which Letters Patent were granted August 28, 1866, reissued January` Said combination-lock-is shown as applied upon a safe or vault door, B,npon which is arranged a bolt-work, consisting' of the usual bolt-supporting bars C, bolts D, carrying-bar E, having a tongue-piece, F, said carrying-bar serving as a medium for projecting or retract-- ing the bolts into and out ofthe sockets a, constructed in the jamb of the safe or vault, for the purpose ot' locking or unlocking the door, as shown in Figs. l and 3.

The bolt-work has the requisite projecting or retracting motion imparted to it from' the outside ot' the door, when opened or closed, through the medium of the usual knob b and the spindle c, which spindle passes through the door, and connects with the carrying-bar by any suitable fastening, such as a slot, d, pin e, and suitable fastening-nut.

The lock-bolt or bearing of the combinationlock mayv be of a circular, segmental, or other desired form, provided said lockbolt is arranged and adjusted so as to turn upon a suitable axis or bearing, and is so constructed that in one position it will prevent the retraction of the bolt-work to retain the safe or vault door locked, while in another position it will admit oi' the bolt-work being retracted, for the purpose of allowing the safe or vault door to be opened.

In the present example, the lock boltis shown as provided with an oft'set or recess,f, which offset or recess is brought in or out of coincidence with the tongue-piece on the carrying-bar, to admit of the vbolt-work being projected or retracted through the medium of a sliding bar, H, which carries a dog, fence, or angle-bar, J, having a hook, g, which engages with the bit h ofthe cam K, secured upon the dial-spindle z', which spindle passes through the safe or vault door, in the usual manner, and serves to operate the series of tumblers or combination-wheels L.

rBhe sliding bar H is connected with the lock-bolt or bearing in any suitable manner, its object being to impart motion to said lockbolt or bearing, to secure the objects above specified.

The said lock-bolt or bearing,it will be perceived, is located in its casing so as to rest closely in the rear ot the tongue piece or connection secured upon the carrying-bar, and is isolated, so to speak, from the tumblers or combination-wheels and the other main working partsl of the lock, and therefore any strain which is brought to bear upon it by the heavy bolt-work will be expended upon the bolt or bearing and its axis or bearing, and not upon the tumblers or combination-wheels.

It will be seen that to unlock the combination-lock, the hook ot' the dog, angle-bar, or fence J will drop into the notches or slots of the tumblers or combination-wheels, when the notches are brought into juxtaposition by the operator who has possession of the combination upon which the lock is set, at which time the bit h of the cam K will also engage with the hook g of the said dog, angle-bar, or fence, when, by moving the dial-spindle, the lockbolt or bearing can be moved or rotated, so as to admit of the tongue piece or connection, with the carrying-bar and bolt-work, being moved back or retracted, as in Fig. 3 of the drawing, and the safe or vault door opened; but when said combination-lock is locked, the hook ot the dog, angle-bar, or fence J is elevated, due to the combination-wheels being disarranged, as in Fig. l of the drawingshand then no action can be had upon the connecting-bar, dog,anglebar, or fence, or upon the lock-bolt or bearing by turning of the dialspindle, and hence the tongue piece or connection on the carrying-bar of the bolt-work rests upon or connects with the lock-bolt or bearing, and the bolt-work is securely retained in a locked condition.

With such combinationlock, or one of substantially the same construction and operation, constructed to be applied for use upon a safe or vault door, to operate in connection with the ponderous or great bolt-work thereon, is combined a time mechanism, the Works of which may be of any of' the improved or desired kinds, since its action is to measure time correctly, the object being that, during the interval that the combination-lock is locked and the time-movement wound up, the same, through a suitable connection made'between it and said combination-lock, will guard the said lock, and prevent its being unlocked, even by a cashier or other person in possession of the combination upon which the said combination-lock is set.

In the present example a duplex or double time-movement is illustrated, such being preferable to a single time-movement as a safeguard against stopping.

Each of' the time-movements, which are designated `by the letters M M, which may consist of a chronometer or clock movement, is supplied with a pointer or hand, attached to a spindle, l, in such a manner as to be capable of being moved backward to set at any elected number on the dials N, saidA dials being spaced oft', or marked with a scale of hours tiem anddivisions, from oneupward, to any desired number, according to the mechanism of i `thus controls the actionot" its lock -bolt or bearing while thevsame is ina locked condi- The yoke lever or connection is designated by the letter P, and it ispivoted or loosely fixed on its support or axis, as at m, or otherwisearranged so as to operate in conjunction `with the moving or revolving disks or arms O,

" .i .th-e object beingtbat the yoke lever or connection and the disks can be adjustedwith respectto each other,wso as to connect with the dog'or fence, or other working part of the lock, and thus control tliemovementkof the lock -jbolt or bearing, and `hence the locking and unlocking of the combination-lock.

One end or the extension of the yoke lever on connection, in the present example, has a suitable hook, that engages with a pin, o,

I 'on the dog, angle-bar, or'fence J by striking underit, in `which case it holds said dog, an-

` gie-bar, or fence elevated out of contact with the tumblers or. combination-wheels and the cam of the dial-spindle. `The arms of said yoke lever or connection connect with or rest upon the axis or spindle of the adjusting disks or arms; andthe arrangement of the studs, pins, or projections on said disks or arms is such that when the indicators have reached the proper number on the dials said studs, pins, or projections will have acted upon the yoke lever or connection, and moved it suficient to withdraw the cam-hook from beneath the pin o, andthus allow the dog, angle-bar, or fenceto fall, ready to engage with the tumy blers or combination-wheels and the lock-bolt or bearing, at which time the combinationlock can be operated by the person in possession of the combination,77 as the time-movej ment has ceased its guarding or dogging action. Notches p p should be formedin the yoke lever or connection, to allow the stud, pins, or projections to fall `therein when the disks j or arms and the indicators have reached Vthe designated number, thus serving as stops for the adjusting disks or arms, and prevent the same from moving on beyond the prearranged hour to reset the yoke lever or connection upon l i l the studs or projections, for if some such proing of the combination-lock in case one of the time -works should stop or failto come to proper position. A spring, r, or an equivalent, such as a weight, should be connected with the lower end ot'V the yoke lever or clonnection, to produce the necessary reaction to bring the hook of the yoke lever or connection under the pin on the dog, angle-bar,` or fence.

Thus it will be seen from the foregoing that the bolt-work 0i' the safe or vault` door connects with, or rests upon, the bolt or bearing of the combination-lock, and that the yoke lever or connection of the time-movement connects with the dog, angle-bar, or

fence oi' the said combination-lock, rendering the said combination-lock `inoperative when locked-that is to say, said yoke lever or connection has the effect ot' dogging or guarding the combination-lock duringthe time it is locked, and prevent its being unlockeduntil the arrival of the hour previously designated by the time-movement; and should .pressure be exerted upon the great or ponderous boltwork of the door when locked, it will be re.- ceived, and arrested, and retained by the lock-bolt of the combination-lock, and will not be transmitted to the tumblers or combination-wheels of the combination-lock, or tothe time-movement, or to the yoke lever or connection.

In lieu ofthe lever connecting with the `dog or fence, it may be made to connect or operate on the lock-bolt itself, and thus secure the result hereinbefore recited.

` lllhe time -mechanism may be in the same case containing the works of the combinationlock 5 or itV may be in an apartment connected with the case of the combination-lock, or in a case separate and distinct from the case containing the combination-lock.

The advantage of this invention over common time-locks is, that when the time mechanism releases the lock mechanism-that is, ceases its dogging or guarding action-it does not admit of the unlocking of the bolt-work of the door, but simply leaves the combination-lock in the condition that it can be unlocked by the person in possession of the proper combination upon which said lock is set, thus securing the advantages of a combimechanism is not setor adjusted, no one, f

except the holder of the combination upon which the lock is set, can open it. No one who has thev combination, whether obtained surrcptitously or otherwise, can open the lock when the time-movement is set, for the simple reason that no connection can be made between the tumbler or combination-wheels, the dog, angle-bar, or fence, the spindle, and the lock-bolt or bearing.

Further: Another feature of the utmost importance present in the combination of' parts brought together is, that the connection between the time-movement and 4the combina tion-lock is such that when the time-movement yis set, the parts adjusted, and the safe-doors closed, the combinationlock will be rendered inoperative until a predeterminate hour, during which interval of time the unlocking action of the combination-lock will be suspended by the time-movement, while the tumblers or combination-Wheels ofthe aforesaid combination-lock are left free to rotate, it' power is exerted upon the dial-spindle for the purpose of twisting said spindle out of place, or impairing the lock mechanism and, by such, the working parts of the combination-lock cannot be injured or rendered useless for future action.

I have made a special claim, in aseparate application for Letters Patent, for the combination of atime-movement anda lock with a lever adapted to be connected with the dog of said lock, to hold it from falling into the slots or notches ofthe combination-wheels except when released by the time-movement. So, therefore, in thisapplication, such special construction and arrangement of parts is not specially claimed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent: 1s-

l. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of a time mechanism anda combination-lock with the bolt-work of a safe or vault door, the time mechanism being constructed to act in conjunction with and render inoperative the combination-lock when locked, said lock having its bolt or bearing constructed to receive the pressure of the series of bolts constituting the bolt-work of the door when locked, and prevent the unlocking of said boltwork until the arrival of a certain predeterminate hour.

2. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of a combination-lock, and the series of bolts constituting the bolt-work of a safe or vault door, with a time-movement and a yoke or lever connection, said lever being constructed and located to render the bolt or bearing of the combination-lock inoperative when locked, the tumblers of the combination-lock and its spindle being free to rotate, while the bolt-work is held in itslocked position by the bolt or bearing of the combination-lock.

In testimony that Iclaim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of the subscribing Witnesses. y l

JAMES SARGENI.

Witnesses:

PHILLIPS ABBOTT, Jos. L. GooMBs.' 

